An Official Plan is a document that guides the use of land over the next 20 to 30 years. It will guide where those land uses - like residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational will go and how they will be designed.

It will also identify what type of development can occur and what we need to protect such as our agricultural lands, natural areas, and water resources.

An Official Plan is the City’s key document that describes the goals, objectives and policies that will direct our land use decisions on:

• Where to direct housing, parks, industry, commercial areas and schools;
• How natural areas and heritage resources will be protected;
• How we can prepare for a changing climate;
• How we can support more affordable housing choices;
• What infrastructure and services (roads, water mains, sewers, schools, community facilities) will be needed;
• How to enhance community identity and design; and
• which tools and processes would best help us get there.

The Niagara Region Official Plan anticipates a population of 141,000 by the year 2051 in Niagara Falls, representing an increase of 47,250 people and over 20,000 new housing units in the next 27 years. Additionally, the Region's Official Plan targets over 17,000 new jobs within the City by 2051.

Our Niagara Falls Plan is needed to incorporate sound policies that will properly guide this exponential growth while fostering an attractive and livable city.

Our goal is to make sure our plans reflect the needs of our community both now and in the future.

Whether you are a long-term resident or a new one, a business owner or an employee in the City, tell us what you like about Niagara Falls and what you think is needed to make it better. This is a Plan to 2051 – you’re never too old or too young to have a vision for our City’s future!

Throughout the project, the City will engage with residents, stakeholders, businesses, Indigenous communities and decision-makers to shape the vision objectives and direction of the new Official Plan.

Let’s work together to create a plan that meets the needs of our current and future community!

Our Niagara Falls Plan influences where you live, work and play. It impacts the urban form, housing options, connectivity, and the overall quality of life in our City.

Our Niagara Falls Plan will conform with the upper tier policies of the Region of Niagara Official Plan, and Provincial Plans such as the Growth Plan and Greenbelt Plan. It will also be consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement which is issued under the Planning Act.

Under Provincial Planning legislation, all Official Plan amendment applications must be considered under the Plan that is in effect at the time of complete application.

That means that any application that is currently underway or that is submitted to the City prior to the final approval of the Our Niagara Falls Plan must be considered under the policies of our current Official Plan and cannot be dealt with through this new official plan process.

Our Niagara Falls Plan will create general policies that apply to the whole of the City. It is not the purpose of this project to consider land use designation changes to individual properties. Those should be considered on a site specific basis.